Tacos are a go to for me, especially in the summertime. Both of these recipes are super simple and also incredibly versatile, I've had the salsa on top of chicken. Also a week later we put this rub on halibut and swapped out the pineapple for mango in the salsa to make fish tacos and they were damn good.

So continues my Kimono saga, this was the first one I ever purchased last summer. I actually lost this after our holidays last year...but Darcy was nice to track it down and re purchase it for my birthday. What a guy! I am so glad he did because I couldn't wait to bust it out again once it got hot out.

I went shopping the other day and found a bunch of tops to try on but didn't have appropriate bottoms (workout pants ain't going to go with a cute blouse) I grabbed this skirt and it ended being the only thing I bought! Happy accidents. It fits perfect and is super comfortable for those hot summer days. I'm almost 100% certain I owned the exact same one at one point during my youth, it's all coming full circle!

Today is a very special day....today Mr. Duke Donovan turns 6 years old! Apparently in dog years that means he's entering middle age, but my guy is still quite energetic and happy, just has a lot more white in his face now. I have had Duke since he was 10 weeks old, and he quickly became my best friend.

We have a very special bond, mostly because when I got Duke I was recovering from open heart surgery. He became my BFF, my walking buddy, the motivation to get fitter, as he grew I got back into my routine. He actually forced me to be more social especially when I wasn't feeling like interacting with others. I had 6 major surgeries within' 14 months and he was an incredibly big part of my emotional recovery. Having this dog has taught me more patience, he's a huge responsibility and is my number one priority and in return he gives me so much affection and really chills me out on crappy days.

Duke and I do everything together, we run stairs, go to the park, grab coffee, he even sometimes helps me train clients at work. Dogs really are man's best friend and when www.puppyspot.com asked me to talk about my guy I was more than happy! If you want a furry friend of your own check out the puppies for sale on their site.Duke's not just a french bulldog, he's mixed with a boston terrier, so while his energy level is moderate he definitely needs a lot more exercise. He's usually walking 1-3 hours a day, he loves the dog park and sprinting after his ball, then napping for hours after.

VIPR's are an amazing tool, they are a great way to do an exercise with a load but the load is dispersed differently than a barbell or dumbell. It is also a great way to do certain movements weighted that ordinarily you couldn't do with a typical tool.

1. Squat to Press 12x

Feet shoulder distance apart, sink into hips until you reach 90 degrees (should get a bit lower than pictured, I am dealing with hip mobility issues). Squeeze your glutes at the bottom come back to standing and press straight overhead keeping core tight.

2. Side lunge to reach 12 per

Take a step to one side, bend into one leg and reach the vipr outside your base of support. Keep core tight and head and chest up.

3. Straight Leg Deadlift to halo (Rotation around the head) 12x

Keep back flat hinge forward, keep glutes squeezed to come back to standing and bring vipr behind head, back in front back into a deadlift.

4. Plank pull through 12x

Plank with hands over VIPR, reach across and pull it through, keeping core tight and hips level

I have become a total sucker for a kimono these past couple summers. They're so lightweight and comfortable that they're the perfect way to finish off an outfit without being too warm. This one has such a fun tropical print that I couldn't resist. I have a problem with buying things just because the print is fun, it's something I've been getting better at as I get older. It becomes problematic when you have a closet full of clashing prints and nothing goes. Now it seems I have veered to the other side where most of my clothes are monochromatic, everything goes but there's no punch of fun. It's all about finding that sweet balance in your wardrobe, it's a lifelong battle no doubt. Guess I'll keep fighting the good fight ;)

I tried a similar recipe I found in the paper but decided to doctor it up a bit. I didn't like some of the ingredients it had included, so I switched them out. I love rice noodles so much, they're lower in carbs then regular noodles and soak up flavour so well. This recipe is super spicy and delicious!

Ingredients:

1lb shrimp

1 bundle shallots

1/4 cup peanuts

1 package rice noodles

2 T chili paste

3 cloves garlic

1/2 1 small red jalepeno

2 T light soy sauce

2 T olive oil

Directions:

1. Cut shallots up into small pieces, along with the jalapeno. Over medium heat, add shallots, jalapeno, minced garlic, chili paste and soy sauce all together.

2. Cook the rice noodles according to the instructions on the package. Soak the noodles in warm water, separate the noodles so they don't get stuck together. Set aside

3. Add shrimp to mixture and cook until shrimp is almost pink then add the noodles in with the mixture

The importance of rest day is often overlooked in the mainstream fitness communities, the focus is go-go, no excuses, push or you're weak. While it's awesome to push yourself and work really hard, it's also equally as important to rest your body and let it recover from these bouts of intense exercise.

When I talk about intense exercise I'm talking about lifting heavy, intense interval training, workout sessions that leave you breathing very heavily or quite sore. These sessions get your heart rate going, release a lot of hormones including cortisol, now cortisol is a stress hormone so too much of it (even if it's from a positive experience like working out) can be bad for you. This increased cortisol can result in:

-Increased weight gain
-Poor sleep
-Low energy
-Increased anxiousness

Now these sound like the things we're trying to avoid via exercise!

Rest days are important in so many ways they aid in the ability to rebuild muscle, when you workout you're tearing the muscle, and to make it stronger/bigger/more toned it needs time to repair these tears. Usually 24-48hours betwen working a muscle group. Rest and recovery ensures you have enough energy for your training sessions. It can also help prevent injury from overworking muscles, or being too tight and stiff from previous training.

Now a rest day doesn't mean sitting on your butt it can involve: gentle stretching like a yin yoga class, foam rolling and postural work, a walk, a leisurely bike ride amongst many other things.Find a strategy that works best for your rest day and helps you feel your best.

This is what I decided on wearing to my 10 year high school reunion. I know you're thinking I look like I'm still in high school (yeaaaa right), but it's true, and I turn 28 in a few months. Time sure does seem to be flying.

This dress is a NYC purchase that I am particularly proud of. We were walking home and I saw a sample sale and decided to pop in and check it out. When I spotted the colour of this dress I was drawn in, and then I saw the price tag. $63 down from $525! Yas Qween. I am all about a bargain and that is one hell of a deal.

Directions:
1. Chop sausage into small bite size pieces, place in pan over medium heat with crushed garlic. Add in peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Cover and let cook through
2. Add in stewed tomatoes, and spices, let cook.
3. Spiralize the zucchini's, and let cook in a large pan over medium heat for about 4 minutes.
4. 1 cup zoodles in a bowl and top with the pasta sauce!